Thirst Colorado Winter 2016

SERVING UP THE COLORADO LIFESTYLE

Vol. 1, No. 2 Winter 2016

CRESTED BUTTE

A SPIRITED WINTER ESCAPE

HEAVENLY PAIRS

MATCHMAKING THAT WILL IGNITE YOUR PALATE

SPANGALANG

POISED FOR SUCCESS IN FIVE POINTS

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BREWERS’ FAVORITES

&

LIBATIONS BEYOND

ADVISORY BOARD John Carlson Executive Director, Colorado Brewers Guild

Kimberly Naslund Owner, Dancing Pines Distillery

Jean Ditslear Owner, 300 Suns Brewing

Brooke Salazar, Vice President, Marketing Breckenridge-Wynkoop LLC

Bess Dougherty Lead Brewer, Wynkoop Brewing Co.

THIRST

Alan Laws Owner, Laws Whiskey House

Charley Sturdavant Owner, Golden City Brewery Colorado Terri Viezbicke Owner, Boulder Distillery

Nate Wannlund Co-Owner, Brewrasa

The Season of Fire and Ice

Publisher Paul Johnson paul@thirstcolorado.com

When we think of wintertime in Colorado, thoughts explode with images of activities that range from fire to ice. From blazing a path through knee-deep powder and gliding across pristine, snowblanketed fields to kicking back in a natural hot spring with friends, the opportunities to enjoy the state’s natural beauty abound.

In this issue, we explore the winter gamut by burning calories while rock climbing, rocketing down the slopes on a fat-tire mountain bike, or just chilling at Nederland’s Frozen Dead Guy Days or the Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships.

Additionally, we spotlight some brewers heating up the craft scene along with a few great recipes and beer pairings from FATE Brewing Company and Mainline Ale House that will tempt those taste buds.

We’ve received great feedback following our inaugural issue and hope you’ll find we’ve taken it to heart. There’s much more inside so please read on and feel free to tell us what you think.

As always, live your passion and Thirst responsibly!

Associate Publisher & Editor Joe Ross joe@thirstcolorado.com Advertising Sales Tod Cavey tod@thirstcolorado.com Maggie Swift maggie@thirstcolorado.com Design & Layout Michele Garner, Stacey Krull, Sandy Birkey President & Founder Wilbur E. Flachman Contributors Crystal Anderson, Jessica Brovsky, Jerrod Cotosman, Steve Graham, Connie Leaf, Audrey Nguyen, Marcos Sandoval and Angie Wright For advertising and editorial information, please contact Joe Ross at 303.428.9529 Ext. 227 or email joe@thirstcolorado.com Proud member of the Colorado Brewers Guild

Thirst Colorado

is produced by The Publishing House, a division of Colorado Word Works, Inc. The Publishing House also produces Colorado’s Performing Arts Publications, serving arts venues along the Front Range.

7380 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, Colorado 80030 303.428.9529

Paul Johnson Publisher & Tasting Guru

Since 1971 Drink up life in large amounts, but restrict your alcohol consumption. We do not endorse or support excessive drinking.

Thirst Colorado is published four times a year by The Publishing House, 7380 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, CO 80030. © The Publishing House, 2015. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

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Except where noted, the content of Thirst Colorado is the property of the magazine and should only be reprinted with permission. Thirst Colorado is not responsible for false or misleading claims made in advertising or editorial materials published herein.

Everything

IS BETTER WITH

MUSEUMS INCLUDED.

Engage all your senses as you discover the complete story behind the sweet, indulgent phenomenon that we call “chocolate.�

Chocolate and its national tour were developed by The Field Museum, Chicago. This exhibition was supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation.

Presented in Denver by

THIRST COLORADO | Winter 2016

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INTERSECTIONS

13 Tales from the Lying Log 14 Prime Pairings 16 Brewers’ Favorites 18 Brewery Spotlight 22 Elevated Liquid 24 Untapped 29 Product Spotlight Charitably Crafted 30 36 Characters of the Craft Documented adventures of mythical status

Beer pairings and recipes for pork belly ramen and arugula salad What do the top local brewers like to drink?

29

A new vision in Boulder, and hand-built brewing machines

34

Winter warmers infused with herbs and local spirits

Check out the top festivals, tastings and competitions

Colorado innovations for fresher growlers, sturdier pints and more

26

Dads’ drinking group supports global microfinance

Former mapping expert becomes face of Odyssey Beerwerks

Cover: Skiing Crested Butte. Photo: Tom Stillo

Section 37 Special Thirst Colorado’s Brewery & Distillery Guide ADVENTURES

Belays and Beers

26

Put it on Ice

10 Actively Drinking

32

Hometown Heroes

12

Brewing Harmony

34

Golden Road

20

Crested Butte

8

Pub opens in Colorado Springs climbing gym

Four ways to burn up calories before downing a beer

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Boulder triplets infuse beer and food with compassion and love

Get ready for a spirited winter adventure

Seven ways to have frozen winter fun

Colorado’s winners at the Great American Beer Fest

Spangalang sets its sites on future excellence

breckenridge

colorado

we tapped winter And

What’s better after a vigorous day of riding Breck Mountain than finishing it off with a cold, refreshing West Coast IPA, Breckenridge Brew Pub’s latest celebration of winter.

970.453.1550 | Monday-Sunday | Open daily at 11am | 600 South Main St. Breckenridge, CO ThirstColorado.com

Winter 2016

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P U u o B y e r M o I f e b L R l C a wal E E B A

Climber Graphic, ©pixsfile / Dollar Photo Club

N W DO

Colorado Springs climbing gym opens pub with taps and cans

By Steve Graham

Steve Hitchcock loves drinking down beer and climbing up mountains, so he helped open a pub that combines both passions. Since January 2015, the CityRock climbing gym in downtown Colorado Springs has also been home to the Ute and Yeti, a pub with 16 taps, 40 canned beers, pizza, sandwiches and a coffee bar. Both businesses occupy the former Ute movie theater in downtown Colorado Springs, inspiring the first half of the bar’s name. The Yeti part honors the mascot animal for UpaDowna, a Springs non-profit that hosts 160 free outdoor adventure events and activities per year. All events are open to everyone, regardless of ability, age or income.

“We remove all barriers to outdoor adventure,” said Hitchcock, executive director of UpaDowna, which is named for his outdoor mantra, “Up a mountain, Down a beer.” Hitchcock has taught free introductory climbing lessons at CityRock nearly every month for four years, but struggled to cover his costs.

One day, CityRock owner Joe Grosjean was brainstorming with him about ways to raise more money for his group. They decided to open a pub and dedicate a percentage of profits to UpaDowna.

“A for-profit business has found a way to benefit the non-profit sector and provide

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a community resource,” Hitchcock said.

He said the Ute and Yeti’s main clientele in the first months were climbers who wanted a cold beer and a sandwich after spending time on the wall. “Since we have been around for some months, the client base is now very varied,” he said. “People just swing by and walk in.” In addition to small tables and a poured concrete bar, the Ute and Yeti has several large community tables.

General Manager Heather Robinson said about 80 percent of Ute and Yeti customers are climbers, but some come in for bar trivia and other attractions.

There are regular business meetings and study sessions during the day, and climbing spectators enjoying beers in the evening. Of course, both the gym owners and city officials were concerned about drunk patrons getting up on the climbing wall, but Hitchcock said there have been no incidents. Patrons at the Ute and Yeti must check in with trained and experienced staff before they can climb.

“We are hyper-alert to that,” Hitchcock said. “Most establishments that don’t have alcohol on the premises don’t think to look if people have been drinking.” The cash registers are also being linked between the businesses to alert clerks at CityRock to patrons who were drinking at the bar.

Photo: CityRock

Photo: Abigail Kreuser/ Kreuser Gallery

Photo: Abigail Kreuser/ Kreuser Gallery

Hitchcock convinced the Ute and Yeti owners to adopt a cans-only policy to encourage brewers to do more canning, and help eliminate the stigma sometimes associated with canned beer. “We are teaching people that canned beer can be good,” Hitchcock said.

He has enjoyed watching the expansion of canned offerings from Upslope Brewing, Oskar Blues and other Colorado breweries, as they offer more options for rafting, backpacking and other outdoor activities where bottles are not an option.

He listed other advantages to canned beers, including the sustainability of recycled aluminum and the reduced light infiltration that can spoil the beer.

He said the can selection is continually rotating and evolving.

“We kind of look at flavor profiles and look for unique offerings,” Hitchcock said. “We try to get some of the sours and intricate beers that really show the value and the quality of what’s out there.”

GM Robinson has a strict quality control policy for the beers.

“I have tried any and every beer before I bring it on,” she said. “I have Continued on page 10

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4 PLACES WHERE YOU CAN EARN YOUR BEER

BY BURNING SOME CALORIES FIRST

©Gorilla / Dollar Photo Club

Photo: CityRock

from page 9

Fort Collins Brewery If your yoga class doesn’t end with a free beer or Bloody

Mary, you’re going to the wrong studio … or brewery. Fort Collins Brewery Yoga runs from 9 to 10 a.m. every Sunday. Cost is $15, including a beverage. Proceeds benefit FoCo Cafe, the city’s first non-profit restaurant, where patrons donate what they can afford for healthy meals made with local and organic ingredients.

Pint Room Ohio’s beloved Pint Room expanded to Colorado with 175 draft lines, gourmet burgers and a beautiful patio on the Platte River in Littleton. When dealing with active drinkers, location is key. Notice the Mary Carter Greenway Trail just outside the backdoor. Snowshoe, run or kayak to the joint, depending on what kind of Colorado day you’re experiencing.

Wild Woods Brewery After a fun snowshoeing trip near Boulder, you might need to slowly ease back into civilization at the seven-barrel Wild Woods Brewery, where the beers are both inspired and flavored by the great outdoors. The flagship IPA is conditioned with juniper berries. The Wildflower Pale Ale is flavored with whole dried jasmine flowers. A wheat beer is flavored with wild berries. And for dessert, the S’mores Stout mildly evokes the campfire treat.

New Belgium Brewery With about 20 car parking spots and ample bike parking,

Colorado’s biggest craft brewery will shame you into pedaling to the Fort Collins tasting room. Plus, it’s just off a beautiful path along the Poudre River. If it’s sunny enough for two wheels, they will give you swag and discounts for showing up on your bike. They also host bike parades, a bike-in movie series, cruiser giveaways and other year-round celebrations of beer and bikes.

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specific styles for the taps, but the brand and actual beer change all the time. I like the more obscure beers that you don’t see in the bars here.”

The Ute and Yeti also has a fireplace, free Wi-Fi and a “library of adventure” books and maps, so you can sip a stout on a winter evening and plan a spring excursion.

The owners are also working on a new patio area. Hitchcock and Robinson said to expect live music and other new features.

“The beautiful thing about working with CityRock is there are a lot of creative minds there,” Hitchcock said. “We will continue to offer things that very few other places can offer.”

Steve Graham is a Fort Collins writer who enjoys the outdoors and great beer.

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Winter 2016

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SHINE SERVES UP A TRIPLE DOSE OF HEALTH

by Jessica Brovsky

C

Trip lets ah Je eal thfu nnifer , l di nin Jessic ga aa nd drin nd Jill pro kin ge xpe vide rien ce.

an quaffing a pint enrich your very being? The owners of Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place in Boulder believe so, but it goes well beyond simply producing good food and beer. Triplets Jill, Jessica and Jennifer Emich are committed to offering their guests healthy choices throughout the space.

Shine Brewing Co. is part of the Gathering Place and it’s nestled cozily on a side street in Boulder. One of the few women-owned breweries in Colorado, Shine employs head brewer Mike Kasian for the express purpose of creating great brews infused with rose quartz essence. His Ahimsa Gluten Free Ale won bronze at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival for Best Gluten Free Ale. “Ahimsa is Sanskrit for compassion,” says Jill Emich. “Every brew is infused with rose quartz essence to promote compassion, harmony and unconditional love.” It’s condensed into a liquid form and dropped into the brew directly, Kasian points out.

Shine’s creations go beyond beer. Non-alcoholic, herbal potions are created and infused with a variety of gemstones and flower essences.

Each potion is meant to promote positive feelings. The room where the potions are brewed smells of herbs and spices and is almost completely shut out from the sounds of the rest of the Gathering Place.

The restaurant also participates and is heavily involved in sustainable practices and the “beyond organics” movement. The movement highlights the digestibility of certain food combinations over others as well as the ability of the body to properly and efficiently absorb all nutrients from the food source. Head Chef Jessica Emich has a master’s degree in holistic nutrition and graduated from the California Culinary Academy. The kitchen is 100 percent non-GMO, gluten free, and meat is grass-fed. “It’s directed at health,” Jessica said, “and taking extra care in the preparation of food.”

As for the Gathering Place, it provides space for dance, yoga and celebrations, such as business meetings and parties. A small room with high ceilings and warm wood walls and floors, the Gathering Place is located near the back of the restaurant, close to the brewery and potion brewing room.

For enthusiasts who can’t get enough of Shine’s approach to health, a cookbook will be released this spring called “Eat, Drink, Shine.” The book will feature paleo-friendly, gluten-free recipes.

Jessica Brovsky will soon graduate from Metro State University of Denver with a journalism degree.

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Photos: Angie Wright

TRUE TALES

FROM THE LYING LOG

By Bufford T. Clapsaddle Clapsaddle has been told many times that countless delectable recipes acquire a distinctive taste totally by accident.

Such, it turns out, was the case with Clapsaddle’s highly popular green bean stew.

In the late 1970s and early 80s the looked-forward-to concoction traditionally began its preparation on the second day of horse pack trips into the Rocky Mountain high country.

Stewing was an all-day, communal effort. Post breakfast, those not hobbling horses to graze for the day, began snapping a generous bag of green beans and tossing the two-inch lengths into the large cooking kettle.

Water started to boil and the co-op cooks volunteered for their responsibilities to the slow simmering pot. Wayne kept feeding the fire. Phil chunked potatoes into one-inch squares for mid-afternoon addition. Chopped carrots and onions were Mark’s contributions in late afternoon. Within the last half hour prior to chow time, Duane tossed in an abundance of slivered mushrooms, followed by a couple of pounds of tasty Wisconsin summer sausage, ala Brynn. Charlie augmented with at least 24 ounces of shredded sharp cheddar.

Coors and Budweiser cans were popped, the two most popular brews not contained in difficult-to-pack bottles in those days. (We enjoyed Fat Tire and Mama’s Little Yella Pils on the latest trip in 2015.)

The U-shaped Lying Logs became silent when dinner was served as is consistently the case when pairing mountain appetites with savory green bean stew.

So the genesis of the unplanned, enhanced stew was set in motion in a 1977 sojourn of the Knight Riders (a collection of college buds from across the country who came to Colorado annually to join Clapsaddle for a horseback retreat).

Cutthroat were biting actively that previous day at Mystic Isle Lake near the old mining town of Fulford south of Eagle.

Not an angler, Christian volunteered for complete green bean stew duties for the day. Therefore, when the sun was disappearing over Iron Edge Mountain that evening, comments on the Lying Log were unanimous: this was the most mouthwatering stew yet. Succulent! Scrumptious! Even epicurean!

Eventually, Christian confessed. At some point in midafternoon, he was enjoined by a bad case of the high country nods. Upon awakening, he readily noted the water had boiled away from the stew and he had neglected to fetch some H2O from the stream.

Being a quick thinker, Christian grabbed a quart of Dewar’s and emptied the entire bottle into the stew.

The supreme complement.

The only “neigh-sayer” was ol’ Pepper, the lead pack horse, who for many a year had to tote in an extra bottle of Scotch.

Bufford T. Clapsaddle (aka Wilbur Flachman) is a retired newspaper and magazine publisher who has guided hundreds of horse pack trips into the Rocky Mountains for family, friends and business associates during the past 45 years. Majority of his tales are revealed only at timberline.

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Prime Pairings Crispy Pork Belly Ramen Ingredients Braising Liquid 3 lbs. skinless pork belly 1/4 cup roasted garlic oil 1 diced onion 1 cup diced apple 1/2 cup fresh chopped basil 1/2 cup fresh chopped cilantro Salt and pepper to taste 1 bunch chopped green onions 1 large ginger coin 1/4 cup chopped garlic 1/2 cup white wine vinegar or cider vinegar 1 cup tamari 1 tsp. each chili flakes, coriander, cardamom, cumin seed, peppercorn

Photos: FATE Brewing

Pair with Laimas KÜlsch Style Ale We have paired this dish with our Laimas KÜlsch Style Ale. It is very light in body and for this particular seasonal winter pairing, it’s a bit reminiscent of the lagers typically served with Pho and Ramen.

2 bay leaves 2 qt. chicken or pork stock ( make your own and drink for all sorts of benefits) 1 qt. water Salt and pepper to taste

Final Plating 1 tsp. each garlic, shallot and ginger 2 cups of sliced roasted mushrooms (We like oyster and button mushrooms) 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar 8 oz. fresh uncooked ramen noodles Fresh basil, cilantro and parsley Sriracha (to taste) Sesame seeds Fresh chopped green onion

Directions Season the pork belly with salt and pepper. Start by getting an oven-safe roasting pan hot. Add roasted garlic oil, then place seasoned pork belly cap down. Adjust heat down and sear for 10 minutes each side. Pull the pork belly from the pan and set to the side.

Add all ingredients but the liquids to the pan and caramelize. Deglaze the pan with vinegar and tamari, then bring to a boil. Let simmer 10 minutes. Add stock and water and place pork belly back into pan. Carefully wrap the entire pan in tin foil and place in the oven at 375 degrees for three hours. Once finished cooking, remove the pan from the oven. Set pork belly aside to cool. Place remaining liquids into blender and blend until smooth. Strain with a chinois.

Once the pork belly has cooled, trim excess fat and cut to 1-inch slices. From there, brown the pork belly in a hot non-stick pan with a bit of oil for 5-6 minutes per side at medium-low heat.

In a pan, begin to caramelize the garlic, shallots, and ginger for the final plating. Add the roasted mushrooms and deglaze the pan with rice wine vinegar. Add 1.5 qt. of the strained braising liquid, plus a bit of water. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 20 minutes. Add in your desired choice of ramen (two people is 8-12 oz). Cook until desired tenderness.

Top with braising liquid and pork belly pieces. Garnish as desired with fresh basil, cilantro, parsley, Sriracha, sesame seeds and chopped green onion. Fry an egg over easy in the pan used to render the pork belly and place on top of the completed dish.

Thanks to FATE Brewing Co. for the recipe and pairing.

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Grilled Apple And Prosciutto Arugula Salad Ingredients 1 oz. chopped dates 1/2 Granny Smith apple (grilled and chopped) 2 oz. candied walnuts 2 oz. thinly sliced prosciutto

Pair with

1 oz. H aystack Farms Smoked Goat Cheese

Breckenridge Autumn Ale

(crumbled) 2 oz. balsamic dressing 4 oz. baby arugula

Directions Start with a medium-size mixing bowl and add the arugula, the candied walnuts and a pinch of salt and pepper to your taste. Then add the chopped dates and about 2 ounces of balsamic dressing.

Our fall seasonal combines the malty goodness of a German lager with the clean crispness of an American ale. Brewed with Munich malts and a delicate blend of Bavarian hops, it’s a full-bodied treat with a nutty-sweet middle, a warming alcohol level and notes of toasted grains.

The over-sized bowl should allow for mixing ingredients until fully incorporated. Then you will want to top the salad with pieces of thinly sliced Prosciutto. When it looks nice, add some goat cheese crumbles to finalize the healthy and tasty dish.

Enjoy it with your favorite bread or crackers.

Photos: Angie Wright

Thanks to the Mainline Ale House for the recipe and pairing.

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BREWERS’ FAVORITES

WHERE INSIDERS SHARE THEIR OPINIONS Modus Mandarina IPA, 6.8% ABV, from Ska Brewing Myrcenary Double IPA , 9.3% ABV, from Odell Brewing Company

Dear You Saison, 5.5% ABV, from Ratio Beerworks “Ratio Beerworks, a new brewery in the RiNo district of Denver, makes one of the nicest, smoothest saisons in the state. The beer is delicate and effervescent while retaining a silky mouth feel and an earthy, bright citrus flavor.”

“This beer has been my favorite for a couple years because it simply is amazing and the best. Odell is my favorite brewery and they always do a fantastic job with their beers; cannot say enough about them. First, the aroma is just spectacular with a huge blast to the senses with plenty of tropical fruits, citrus and floral notes that are very pleasant. You know you are in for a treat immediately. The taste is amazing with the great tropical flavor that is well balanced with the bitterness of the double IPA. It finishes so smooth and clean, you would not expect it to be a big IPA or even 9.3% ABV, but not going to complain at all! Simply put, all around fantastic beer that I can drink any time of the year, the best!”

“One of my favorite local brews right now is Ska’s Modus Mandarina! The Bavarian Mandarina hops and the orange peel create a subtle but great citrus flavor. That’s not easy to accomplish. I like the fact that it still tastes like an IPA!” Jason Wiedmaier, Head Brewer Lone Tree Brewing Co.

Tyler Swaim, Head brewer Grist Brewing Company

Tim Evon, Head Brewer Dry Dock Brewing

Obitus American Brown Ale , 7.6% ABV, from BRU Handbuilt Ales

Jean-Claude Van Blond, 6.8% ABV, from Wit’s End Brewing Company

St. Lupulin, 6.5% ABV, from Odell Brewing Company “I’m a sucker for Odell Brewing Company beers. I pretty much love everything they put out. But the one I always go back to when available is the St. Lupulin. It’s a killer extra pale ale. Floral and enough hop bitterness to balance the maltiness. Not in your face hops, but shows a delicate hand with additions. A balance that allows all aspects of this beer to shine through. It’s delicious.”

Ian Clark, Beer Chef, Founder BRU Handbuilt Ales

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“One of our long-standing favorite breweries around the state is Wit’s End Brewing Company. Not only because we kinda “grew up” in the same homebrew club together, but they also make amazingly well-balanced and delicious beers, such as the GABF award-winning Jean-Claude Van Blond. Besides Wit’s End, Strange Craft is our other long-term favorite local brewery, because they make very amazing beers (all around), and Tim Meyers (the owner) keeps a very positive and welcoming demeanor to all the little guys and now makes a point to save an entire section of the convention center each year at GABF to try to get all the Colorado breweries to sit together during the awards ceremony, so that they can cheer each other on. He’s a team player all around, and is an amazing individual to talk to.”

Betty Wang, Creative Brain & Co-Owner CAUTION: Brewing Company

“With the days getting shorter and a bit colder my favorite brew right now is Obitus American brown ale by Bru. The hint of dried fruit plays well with the balanced blend of hops and malt. At just under 8% ABV, there is plenty of warmth in this beer to ward off a chilly evening this time of year.”

Jeff Brown, President, Founder Boulder Beer Company

©Volff / Dollar Photo Club

EST.

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BREWERY SPOTLIGHT

Photo: Audrey Nguyen

Mile High Salute to Little Machine The name says it all. Little Machine Beer is a minimalistic brewery that features a simple yet inviting environment and small hand-built machines that help produce their brews.

Located in Denver’s Jefferson Park neighborhood and across from Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the owners hope to deliver a warm atmosphere to the locals. “We want this place to feel like home for the people around the area,” says Brett Williams, co-owner and former head brewer at Dry Dock. “It’s a place where they can come after a long day at work and just relax.”

The tasting room overlooks the entire brewery. The centralized, circular bar is a magnet for visitors and the brewing room peeks out from the corner. With a brewing style the owners define as balanced and authentic, the brewery works on providing beers that are not only enriching to your taste buds but also approachable for everyone to enjoy. Their collection ranges from the Sniff IPA and The Reason saison to the Alternating Currant, a black currant kettle sour that’s a bit tart.

Owners: Ben Chenard, Mike Dunkly and Brett Williams littlemachinebeer.com | 303-284-7893 | 2924 W. 20th Ave., Denver - Spotlighted by Audrey Nguyen

Vision Quest’s Quest for Best Boulder Brewing

1919 Blake St. Denver, CO 80202

(303) 293-8338 frth.com 18

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Vision Quest opened in the summer of 2015, although much of the Boulder crowd is still discovering the small brewery. Brewers Adam Kandle, Greg Kallfa and Greg Foley set out to create a unique brewing experience in Boulder that complemented its homebrew store, Boulder Fermentation Supply.

Foley, Kandle and Kallfa have worked at other breweries in Boulder for years.

Boasting nearly 15 years of experience, Kandle previously worked at Shine Restaurant and Hop To It. Some in Boulder may know Foley for his extravagant homebrew parties at his home in south Boulder. As for Kallfa, his degree in Biology from the University of Colorado has translated into his role as an engineer of sorts at Vision Quest.

“The brewery is a big deal, but the homebrew shop is the center of our business and we have a responsibility to make it the best brew shop Boulder has ever had,” Kandle says.

The current bestselling brew at Vision Quest is the award-winning Chumlumzumboe IPA. Brewed only in small batches, the IPA has six different hops (some rare) and a malty base.

Owners: Adam Kandle and Greg Kallfa visionquestbrewing.com | 303.898.6802 | 2510 47th St. Unit A2, Boulder - Spotlighted by Jessica Brovsky

Climber Graphic, ©pixsfile / Dollar Photo Club

Photo: Tom Stillo

Crested Butte THE WORD IS GETTING OUT

Fun, Food and Libations are on the Rise

Photo: Josh Futterman

By Joe Ross

The word is getting out about one of Colorado’s best-kept winter secrets. Once overlooked as the middle of nowhere, Crested Butte has deployed a secret weapon to assure winter visitors return for more than great skiing and boarding.

Families can find fun eats for the kids, and foodies can feast on international fare and fine craft beverages.

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The former coal-mining town is tucked in the West Elk Mountains in the southwest part of the state. The Town of Crested Butte’s funky, non-traditional offerings are ringing the bell for more people who truly want to escape the long lines and pretentiousness associated with larger Colorado destinations. However, executive chef and restaurant owner Kate

Ladoulis points out that those visitors also bring loftier expectations when it comes to drinking and dining.

Kate and husband Chris Ladoulis opened LoCo (Local Colorado Spirits & Food) downtown last fall with a bevy of cocktails and a short menu of dishes featuring locally sourced ingredients.

Appetizers include braised Colorado

beef, pork meatballs and creamy polenta. A favorite among entrées is the spice-rubbed pork riblets with Colorado Honey-Bourbon BBQ Sauce. “Guests are really diverse and well-traveled,” Kate says. “And they like really good food and beverages … with none of the pretense.”

The Ladoulises understand the local food and beverage evolution. For eight years, they have operated Django’s Restaurant and Wine Bar at the base of Mt. Crested Butte.

To assure a smooth opening at LoCo, they also enlisted “master cocktail craftsman” Kyle Anderson to have a little fun behind the bar. Anderson, who grew up in the small Colorado town of 1,500 people with dreams of being paid to snowboard, has spent the last 10 years perfecting his craft, which includes new twists on the Old Fashioned, the Negroni and other favorites.

Anderson is serving all-Colorado spirits and you can bet he is taking advantage of his neighbors a few doors away: Montanya Distillers. If he mixes up a daiquiri, it will include Montanya’s rum, which has won a mantel full of awards in recent years. The distiller recently released a new, limitededition rum that is aged for 36 months and named The Exclusiva.

Just a few more steps down the street you’ll find The Eldo Brewery and Taproom, “a sunny place for shady people.” At least a half-dozen freshly crafted brews are on tap throughout the year and great burgers

and fun bands are available to go with your favorite libation.

Closer to the skiing and boarding, 9380 Prime Restaurant and Bar is located in the Elevation Hotel and Spa in Mt. Crested Butte. In addition to fine food, a first-rate selection of Colorado breweries are featured, including Oskar Blues, Odell Brewing Co., Avery Brewing Co., New Belgium and Coors. 9380 Prime General Manager Greg Melear said the restaurant is always working to keep up with expanding tastes of visitors by adding new beers.

Of course, no one is trying to take the fun out of funky. The Secret Stash Pizzeria, which moved into new digs in the summer of 2013, invites visitors to “kick back, relax and chill.” The vibe makes one feel like a hookah should be burning in the middle of the room at the Stash. Locals love the place and it will bring out the hippie in even the most conservative of folks.

The town, which had shrunk to a tiny village less than 50 years ago, has successfully blended the Old West with the new, ever-expanding population that seeks out adventure. So if Crested Butte is the destination for winter fun – skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing or sleigh rides with the family – enjoy the fact that the middle of nowhere has a growing reputation for having it all when you arrive.

Joe Ross spends much of his time looking for great stories and great beers.

DOWNHILL ON TWO WHEELS

Racers, weekend warriors and novices are all promised a fun ride during the first-ever Borealis Fat Bike World Championships in Crested Butte, Jan. 27-31.

Yes, the serious folks will compete for prizes but everyone – even spectators – will be invited to check out the latest, lightest, sturdiest fleet of two-wheelers that will roll into town thanks to Borealis Fat Bike Co. in Colorado Springs.

Competitors will rock a downhill on Crested Butte Mountain, a single track in the backcountry and a course in town. “The races and rides will be timed but racers can do their thing while others simply ride just for the fun of it,” the chamber says. “It’s an event that is for all shapes, sizes and levels of ability.”

The Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber is hosting the event and to make sure everyone’s thirst is quenched, Odell Brewing Co. has teamed up with the town to provide beverages (cbchamber.com/events).

If you can’t make the Crested Butte event, check out the Oskar Blues Old Man Winter Bike Rally scheduled for Feb. 7 in Lyons. There are two courses for different skill levels and a five-mile foot race (oldmanwinterrally.com).

Photo: Trent Bona

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ELEVATED LIQUID

WINTER COCKTAILS MADE WITH BITTERS, HERBS & SPICES

By Connie Leaf

M

y cocktail creation process is always in some sense inspired by the changing of seasons. Like a mindful chef would do with seasonal, wholesome food, I let what’s around me inspire my work.

As the golden aspens gave way to snowflakes, our bar team started thinking about winter cocktails that can be built in high volumes as efficiently and consistently as possible. We collaborate on how to achieve that perfect balance between the flavor profiles of the base spirit, sweetener, and the bittering agent that both lifts and binds the aforementioned two together. The cold winter months are dominated by warming spices, and to quote David Kaplan,

founder of the revolutionary New York City bar Death and Company, “bitters are a bar’s spice rack.”

The revival of bitters behind bars aligns with the reinvention of pre-prohibition classics. In fact, the first known written definition of the word “cocktail” from an 1806 newspaper from Hudson, New York, includes bitters as one of its four critical components (the others being any base spirit, water and sugar). Before acting as a flavoring agent in cocktails, bitters were patented, proprietary medicine blends going back to London in the 1700s. Bitters lost favor in the 1980s with the rise of packaged, pre-mixed powders and syrups. Daiquiris were no longer made with muddled strawberries and freshly pressed lime juice but by

THE ALPINIST Drink by Connie Leaf

2.25 oz. Sage-infused Peach Street Bourbon .75 oz. 10th Mountain Spirits Peach-Vanilla Sage Cordial .25 oz. Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth 4 dashes Angostura Bitters Stir over ice in tin shaker.

Strain and serve up.

Garnish with a slapped fresh Sage leaf.

Continued on page 28

Wine Tastings

Fourth Tuesday of Every Month 5:30-8:00 p.m. at Park Hill Golf Course 4141 E. 35th Ave. | Denver, CO 80207

JANUARY 26 – Sonoma WINE & Scotch Tasting – Sonoma is often thought of as the “other” Wine Country, forever in the shadow of Napa Valley.

Truth is, even though there are far fewer wineries here, its wines have actually won more awards. Come and experience the best wines from the area. $30 advance $35 day of event – Includes a tasting of 100’s of wines and generous appetizers.

FEBRUARY 23 – Vive la France WINE, Cognac along with Cider – France has long been an important wine producing country. The principal wine regions of France are Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Languedoc-Roussillon, the Loire region, and the Rhone. Each offers a unique style of wine, for varying tastes. Tonight you will sample from most areas. $30 advance $35 day of event - Includes a tasting of 100’s of wines and generous appetizers.

MARCH 22-90’s Club domestic – Highly Rated Wines , Craft & Belgium Beer – All wines tasted tonight will have a rating of 90 points or above from THE USA. When only the best will do! $30 advance $35 day of event – Includes a tasting of 100’s of wines and generous appetizers

LOHI’S LARGEST SELECTION OF CRAFT WHISKEY 3200 Tejon Street, Denver

303-927-6334 LoHiSteakBar.com 22

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Visit argonautliquor.com for other upcoming wine tastings! argonautliquor.com/calendar Call 303-831-7788 to make reservations

Proceeds from each event benefit the Colorado Sympho ny!

OPEN EVERYDAY

11am

2531 N 12th St. Grand Junction, CO 81501 ALEHOUSEGJ.COM

UNTA

ULLRGRASS MUSIC & BEER FESTIVAL JANUARY 29-31 Golden

Coral Creek Music presents the UllrGrass Music & Beer Festival in Parfet Park in Golden.

A ticket includes unlimited three-ounce beer sampling from 1-5 p.m. and access to the Parfet Park stage for music. Bands include The Drunken Hearts, The Grant Farm, The Good Time Travelers and more.

UllrGrass.com

FEBRUARY OLD MAN WINTER RALLY FEBRUARY 7 LYONS

Photo: David Foxhoven

BIG BEERS, BELGIANS AND BARLEYWINES FESTIVAL JANUARY 7-9 VAIL

Julia Herz of CraftBeer.com and the Brewers Association takes time for a photo with her panel members for “Winter Seasonals from

JANUARY BIG BEERS, BELGIANS AND BARLEYWINES FESTIVAL JANUARY 7-9 Vail

One of Colorado’s top beer festivals returns to Vail for its 16th year. Along with a top-notch lineup of breweries, this festival also features educational seminars, a brewmasters’ dinner and commercial and homebrew competitions.

bigbeersfestival.com

52ND ANNUAL ULLR FEST JANUARY 13-16 Breckenridge

Breckenridge invites snow lovers of all ages to join the party. Ullr enthusiasts will fill the streets for the Ullr Parade, and crazy float participants will ski jump on Main Street or glide through town in a hot tub.

gobreck.com/events

ESTES PARK WINTERFEST JANUARY 16-17 Estes Park

This event is quickly becoming a popular destination not only in Colorado, but for people from surrounding states. Brew and wine tasting will be available throughout.

estesparkwinterfestival.com

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the Brewers Who Brew Them.” From left are Scott Vaccaro from Captain Lawrence, Omar Ansari from Surly Brewing Co., Jeffrey Green of Very Nice Brewing Co., and Cory Forster of Dillon Dam Brewery. bigbeersfestival.com BIG BARREL AGED BEER FESTIVAL JANUARY 16-18 Wheat Ridge

Come try a variety of barrel-aged Belgian quads, imperial stouts, barley wines and specialties from all of your favorite local breweries. You’ve never tasted so many barrelaged brews in one spot! No tickets needed.

coloradoplus.net/events DENVER BREW FEST JANUARY 22-23 Denver

The Brew Fest at Mile High Station will celebrate craft beverages from around Colorado and beyond, and will feature local bands, food and loads of vendors. Anticipate 125 brews from 45 craft breweries.

denverbrewfest.com

STEAMPUNK SNOWDOWN JANUARY 27-31 Durango

Back in 1979 the land of Durango was covered in winter’s darkness and the people were depressed. Then came the “snowdown.” This year’s theme is “Steampunk Snowdown.” Think H.G. Wells, steam gadgets and gears and Victorian-era costumes. And there’s always plenty of beer-related activities around town.

snowdown.org

Shake off those winter blues with a bike rally (50km or 100km) or 5.8-mile run starting at Sandstone Park in Lyons. Presented by Oskar Blues, participants get rewarded with luxury aid stations, a hot meal, a cold beer and a rocking post-ride party with live music, contests and a raffle.

oldmanwinterrally.com

12TH ANNUAL FIRKIN RENDEZVOUS FEBRUARY 20 COLORADO SPRINGS

Get a taste of cask-conditioned ales prepared in a traditional British style. Cask ales are

APPED

WINTERWONDERGRASS MUSIC & BREW FEST FEBRUARY 19-21 Avon Listen to live music by bands like Greensky Bluegrass and Leftover Salmon while you stroll in and out of heated tents filled with the best of Colorado craft beer at this three-day festival.

winterwondergrassfestival.com WINTER CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 20 Boulder

The second annual beer festival will feature 40-plus breweries at the CU Events Center on campus. It was launched by Boulder natives who wanted a winter festival that gives back.

At least 20 percent of the proceeds will go to Boulder nonprofits.

wintercraftbeerfestival.com

12TH ANNUAL FIRKIN RENDEZVOUS FEBRUARY 20 Colorado Springs

Bristol Brewing Company presents the 12th Annual Firkin Rendezvous, a cask ale celebration to benefit the Colorado Brewers Guild. At least 35 Colorado breweries will share cask-conditioned ales of goodness.

bristolbrewing.com

fermented, dry-hopped, conditioned and served in a single cask, the “Firkin” being the British cask size most commonly used, according to the fine folks at Bristol Brewing.

Bristolbrewing.com

Photo: Imbibe Events

COLLABORATION FEST MARCH 19 DENVER

Kick off Colorado Craft Beer Week with the third annual Collaboration Fest at Sports

MARCH FROZEN DEAD GUY DAYS MARCH 11-13 Nederland

Colorado’s Frozen Dead Guy Days is known as one of the most unique and quirky festivals in the country and continues to be a world-renowned spectacle. It all takes place amid an incredible free music festival featuring Colorado’s most talented acts in an “eccentric cross between morbid and hilarious that permeates the weekend’s atmosphere.”

frozendeadguydays.org

5TH ANNUAL FORT COLLINS BEER PAIRING MARCH 11 Fort Collins

Enjoy unlimited samples from 15 Colorado breweries paired with gourmet small plates.

The event is hosted by the Colorado State University Alumni Association and the Fort Collins Ram Network.

alumni.colostate.edu

Have an event you would like to get into Thirst Colorado?

Let us know. joe@thirstcolorado.com Photo: Steve Oliveri

Authority Field at Mile High. Brewers from around the world will create beers that are offered only one time. collaborationfest.com

DENVER ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE MARCH 12 Denver

The Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a festive and fun event for all ages that celebrates Irish culture and heralds the start of spring. It’s the largest St. Patty’s Day Parade west of the Mississippi.

denver.org/things-to-do COLLABORATION FEST MARCH 19 Denver

Collaboration Fest was crafted by a group of like-minded folks looking to create the ultimate showcase event to kick off Colorado Craft Beer Week. Each beer featured at Collaboration Fest is created by at least one Colorado Brewers Guild member, with other participating breweries coming from near and far.

collaborationfest.com

COLORADO BREWER’S FESTIVAL TBA Denver

Now under the direction of the Colorado Brewers Guild, Colorado Craft Beer Week is a nine-day celebration of Colorado’s craft brewers, pubs and restaurants.

coloradobeer.org/calendar

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Evergreen Lake - Photo: Matt Normann

By Jerrod Cotosman

Colorado is the best place to live because you don’t have to spend the winter months hunkering down and waiting for spring.

Sure, boarding and snowshoeing are favorites, but we’ve decided to focus on ice. So with apologies to Vanilla Ice and George “The Iceman” Gervin, here are seven ice activities to consider this winter.

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Breckenridge Snow Sculptures - Photo: Terri Ross

Wings to Coors Field where you can cheer for the good guys. If college hockey is more your thing, the University of Denver and Colorado College will battle for the Gold Pan in the same venue a week earlier.

OUTDOOR ICE SKAT ING

For a traditional winter experience, strap on your skates and hit a frozen pond.

Evergreen Lake is a favorite Front Range location complete with a warming hut for those who want to come in out of the cold. Denver’s Skyline Park also hosts a portable rink in the shadow of the city’s skyscrapers. If you like to skate, the outdoor experience is a must.

ICE FISHING

If you love to fish and can’t wait for the thaw, the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife has you covered. Harvey Gap State Park near Rifle is just one of many lakes that offers year-round fishing.

Make sure you review safety guidelines before you cut a hole in the ice and drop your line. On the way home, warm up at the Glenwood Canyon Brewery with a Canyon Burger and a pint of Hanging Lake Honey Ale.

SCULP TURES IN BRECKENRIDGE

January 30-February 7 – The International Snow Sculpture Championships end in late January and viewing for the public is open the following week. The sculptures are near the Riverwalk Center and showcase the creative talent of artists from around the world. The 2015 champion Lithuanian team created a depiction of Noah’s Ark floating on the clouds. After you are done, you can walk down to the original Breckenridge Brewery.

Frozen Dead Guy Days - Photo: Terri Ross

Don’t spend the winter shivering indoors and waiting for the spring – get out and enjoy.

Jerrod Cotosman is a Denver-area accountant, author and beer drinker who spends an unwholesome amount of time watching televised sports.

NEDERLAND FROZEN DEAD GUY DAYS

March 11-13 – And now for something completely different at the tail end of winter. Sure, the ice involved is related to the cryogenically frozen corpse of a Norwegian, but where else can you find a parade of hearses and coffin races? Come for the macabre fun and the free music festival. A local brewery will be slinging suds!

DRINKING FROM AN ICE LUGE

Make your Super Bowl party a hit with the addition of an ice luge. The ice luge is a large block of ice with a channel carved into it where liquor can be poured. Gravity takes care of the rest as the alcohol runs downhill. Luges can range from a simple block of ice to elaborately carved sculptures.

Ice Luge

OURAY ICE FESTIVAL

January 14-17 – Come out to Ouray Ice Park and see the world’s top ice climbers compete. The highlight occurs when the climbers scale Uncompahgre Gorge in the Elite Mixed and Speed Climbing competitions, but there are climbing clinics for all skill levels and vendor exhibitions that let you try out the latest gear. Nights are full of food, drinks and fun.

OUTDOOR ICE HOCKEY

February 27 – Regardless of NHL realignment, all true Avalanche fans know who the real rival is. The NHL Stadium Series brings the hated Red

Ice Fishing - Photo: ©Germanskydive110 / Dollar Photo Club

from page 22

Join the

Colorado team!

EXPLOSIVE GROWTH MEANS WE HAVE NEEDS. MAD SALES SKILLS? TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHER? LOVE WRITING ABOUT THE CRAFT SCENE?

If you are thirsting for a fun, fast-paced environment, LET’S TALK SOON.

the push of a sticky button and a carton of chemicals. We cocktail enthusiasts welcome back the aromatic bitters with open arms, even imitating and recreating them in our own kitchens.

This season, I’m inspired by the aromas of cooked dark fruits, oak note undertones of caramel and vanilla, and warming spices like cardamom and cinnamon. Barrel-aged grain spirits and savory herbaceous liqueurs come to mind when trying to achieve balance and warmth in a winter cocktail. I work down the street from 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirits Company, right in the heart of Vail Village, and had the idea to incorporate their Sage-Infused Peach Vanilla “Alpenglow” Cordial in a variation of the classic Manhattan. I poured the cordial in place of sweet vermouth. It’s much sweeter than your typical Italian vermouth used in a proper Manhattan, so I reduce the amount needed. I’m using Peach Street Bourbon from Palisade as the base spirit, and three dashes of the classic Angostura Bitters to both balance out the sweetness of the cordial and bridge the vanilla peach and sage flavors to Peach Street Bourbon’s 92-proof heat.

The craft distillers at Peach Street are self-proclaimed “creative perfectionists” and “artisan experimenters” who produce the highest quality Colorado-based straight bourbon. With its intense spice notes, cinnamon, and vanilla on the nose, and thinner-than-normal mouth feel, Peach Street is the perfect Colorado bourbon to complement my sweeter variation of a winter Manhattan.

My first attempt was well-balanced and enjoyable, but the sage did not shine through as much as I had hoped. I infused the bourbon with fresh sage leaves to enhance the herbal component already found in 10th Mountain’s cordial. It’s a delicate herb that, if over-infused, would impart more bitterness than I wanted, so only 21 grams were needed for a whole bottle of bourbon. That seemed to do the trick. My bar guests love this winter variation on the classic Manhattan.

Connie Leaf bartends in Vail at Sweet Basil Restaurant. She has an unwavering passion for hospitality through food and beverage, and she enjoys skiing fresh powder and hiking.

Send an email to Joe Ross or Paul Johnson joe@thirstcolorado.com paul@thirstcolorado.com

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RUN WALK BIKE HIKE PADDLE SHRED SWIM GEAR ZIP LINE NEWS BREWS SPIRITS STILLS HOPS BARLEY WHEAT KE MOUNTAINS FRONT RANGE OUTDOORS SKI SNOWBOARD RUN WALK BIKE HIKE PADDLE SHRED SWIM GEAR ZIP LI NEWS BREWS SPIRITSM STILLS HOPS BARLEY WHEAT KEG CASK MOUNTAINS FRONT RANGE OUTDOORS SKI SNOW RUN WALK BIKE HIKE PADDLE SHRED SWIM GEAR ZIP LINE NEWS BREWS SPIRITS STILLS HOPS BARLEY WHEAT KE MOUNTAINS FRONT RANGE OUTDOORS SKI SNOWBOARD RUN WALK BIKE HIKE PADDLE SHRED SWIM GEAR ZIP LIN BREWS SPIRITS STILLS HOPS BARLEY WHEAT KEG CASK MOUNTAINS FRONT RANGE OUTDOORS SKI SNOWBOAR

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Big Agnes Stainless Pint Cups

These beauties are for camping and other outings in which those red plastic cups just won’t cut it. Plus, you can reuse these over and over (they won’t wash themselves). www.bigagnes.com/products

North Shore 2.0

With its newly enhanced 5-point shape, these powder experts took the biggest successes from their leading products and combined them in a “progressive turn radius ski that was born to take you down the descents of your dreams.” The tip shape is engineered to ease you in to the turn without sacrificing the wide shovel needed on deep runs. The shape of the rest of the ski is geared to allow intuitive turns for tight couloirs and long run outs alike. Care to push your limits without having to worry about handling the varying demands of big mountain terrain? This is the ski for you. www.rockymountainunderground.com

Do you have products you can’t live without? Send suggestions to: joe@thirstcolorado.com

Colorado Ski/ Board Jacket

Stay warm in this Colorado branded jacket brought to you by a proud Colorado brand. Thermoplastic polyurethane with coated seams mean the elements stay outside. Additionally, waterproof tape zippers, internal pass holder and a “follow your passion” pocket mean you can enjoy the day your way.

The adjustable waist and hood bands will help keep you comfortable and it’s 100 percent windproof. www.belongdesigns.com

GrowlTap

Drinking a growler of great beer should not be a race against time and inebriation. Why not save the last half of your first growler of the night?

The GrowlTap ensures that your beer will be ready for you to enjoy the next day or the next month. www.growltap.com

Fort Collins Brewery’s Spent Grain Dog Biscuits

Most pubs are dog friendly because Colorado is definitely the place for you and your pooch to hang out. So why not give him something sweet while you stop in for a brew? www.fortcollinsbrewery.com/shop

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CHARITABLY CRAFTED Brian Schmierer and Robert Crow sample bourbon during a Liquid Therapy event at the Whisk(e)y in Old Town Fort Collins.

Photo: Courtesy Robert Crow

DRINKS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE Fort Collins dads generate African aid one beer at a time

By Steve Graham

R

obert Crow just wanted to find some drinking buddies in Fort Collins. As a result, a Ugandan farmer has a new solar phone charger and a Kenyan family runs a new fruit stand.

Crow is a British transplant working in real estate in Fort Collins. In 2012, he started Liquid Therapy, a dads’ drinking group that offers more than good beer and a break from the kids. Every month he invites a group of guys (and occasionally their wives) to a different drinking establishment, and asks the brewery or bar to donate $1 per drink to the charity of his choice.

To date, Liquid Therapy events have raised more than $1,400 for microloans in Africa, as well as other non-profits. The group primarily works with Kiva.org, which

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lists thousands of small loan requests for communities and projects where traditional bank loans are not an option.

In choosing targets for the loans, Crow seeks out fathers in need. He has a soft spot for guys trying to brew or sell beer.

So his group has helped expand some grocery stores, fruit markets and taverns in remote African villages. Liquid Therapy also funded a Kenyan farmer’s request for a new smartphone, solar charger and scale, allowing the man to provide valuable crop information to villagers.

The Kenyan farmer and the Kenyan fruit stand worker have repaid their loans, allowing Crow to reinvest the Liquid Therapy donations into other worthy projects. Through reinvestment, the group is up to $3,300 in loans for 17 projects, mostly in Africa.

Liquid Therapy sessions have also raised money for northern Colorado flood relief and a Sandy Hook Elementary School victims’ relief fund.

Crow, 39, moved his family to Fort Collins from Atlanta in 2011. Like many transplants, they struggled to find friends.

They had tried some Meetup events to no avail, but Crow told his wife he was more interested in starting a new social group open to virtually everyone. And like any self-respecting Englishman, he enjoys good beer.

“I told her I was going to start a dads’ group,” he said. “It didn’t matter where you came from or what you did, you’d be welcome.”

The meetings have grown larger, but it’s still about socializing, and drinking good beer and spirits.

“I wondered if we could convince each bar or brewery to give a dollar per drink to help a dad in Africa provide for his family,” he said.

He first asked Pateros Creek Brewery.

The evening drew 50 guys and raised $100, so Crow knew he was on to something. The majority of business owners have since agreed to share bar revenues. Fort Collins Brewery, Mayor of Old Town and Funkwerks are a few of the locations where funds were raised.

Crow figures it’s a good investment for the breweries. They enjoy a guaranteed set of customers on a weeknight, as well as valuable publicity.

“We all have something in common.

We’re all dads and we’re all looking to blow off a little steam,” said Cory Schinkel, who has been part of the Liquid Therapy gatherings for two years.

Crow is currently a real estate agent, but he previously worked in community development and micro-finance lending in Haiti and Rwanda, where he helped create fair-trade coffee operations in warravaged villages.

Steven Graham is a Fort Collins freelance writer and dad who enjoys the outdoors and great beers.

2501 16th St, Denver, CO 80211 | ALEHOUSEDENVER.COM

Open Mon - Thurs: 11am –12am • Friday: 11am - 2am • Saturday: 11am - 2am • Sunday: 11am - 12am

Gold Medal Winners Wiley Roots Brewing Co. Super 77 Wheat

Prost Brewing Weißbier

AC Golden Brewing Co. Ctayt

Spangalang Brewery Spangalang Table Beer

Fort Collins Brewery & Tavern Oktoberfest

Left Hand Brewing Co. Fade to Black Volume 1

FUN FACTS:

3,800 beers served at the festival

Coors Brewing Co. Coors Banquet

Silver Medal Winners

FUN FACTS:

242 judges from 15 different countries

Telluride Brewing Co. Whacked Out Wheat

Steamworks Brewing Co. Colorado Kölsch

WeldWerks Brewing Co. WeldWerks Hefeweizen

CODA Brewing Co. Via Chicago

Comrade Brewing Co. Fresh Hop Superpower

Bootstrap Brewing Co. Wreak Havoc

Trinity Brewing Red Swingline IPA Primitif

Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co. No Name

Our Mutual Friend Brewing Co. 24 Frames Per Second

Elk Mountain Brewing Co. Wild Wapiti Wheat

SKA Brewing Mexican Logger

Avery Brewing Co. White Rascal

Lone Tree Brewing Co. Mexican Lager

Brewery Rickoli Statik

Grimm Brothers Brewhouse Fearless Youth

Bronze Medal Winners Dry Dock Brewing Co. Production Facility Apricot Blonde Broken Compass Brewing Coconut Porter Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales Ramjet Grimm Brothers Brewhouse Snow Drop

SKA Brewing Ska Face

Left Hand Brewing Co. Sawtooth Ale

Dry Dock Brewing Co. Pilsner

Denver Beer Co. King Ink

Pug Ryan’s Brewing Co. Peacemaker Pilsner

Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co. Altbier

Black Bottle Brewery Friar Chuck

Left Hand Brewing Co. Black Jack Porter

Cannonball Creek Brewing Co. Featherweight Pale Ale

City Star Brewing Night Watchman List of winners provided by the Great American Beer Festival

SPANGALANG ‘Gold’ is just the beginning

Photos: Marcos Sandoval

By Steve Graham

Spangalang partners Darren Boyd, Austin Wiley and Taylor Rees share a pint.

W

When three former Great Divide brewers launched their own business, they knew they could make award-winning beer.

They just didn’t expect the accolades to roll in so quickly.

“We knew we’d get there eventually, but not within months of opening our doors,” said Darren Boyd, who opened Spangalang Brewery in April in Five Points, alongside fellow brewers Austin Wiley and Taylor Rees. Five months later, Spangalang’s Table Beer won the gold medal for Belgianstyle ales at the 2015 Great American Beer Fest.

“We’re likely one of the only breweries ever to have been opened by three brewers, and that experience comes through in the beer,” Boyd said. “We have the knowledge to make exceptional beer

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and the pride to never serve anything that isn’t outstanding.”

Boyd is a former New York banker who spent four years working up from packaging to brewing at Great Divide.

Ohio native Rees spent 10 years at the downtown brewery, including his last four as head brewer. Wiley spent seven years as lead brewer and researcher at Great Divide, and has also worked at Bristol and the Denver Beer Company.

They all worked together on beer recipes at Great Divide. They now put their heads together for every part of the Spangalang business, eschewing titles and strictly defined roles. “At Spangalang, we remain very collaborative,” Wiley said.

Of course, all three brewers were excited about the GABF medal, but they are even more excited about some other

Spangalang creations, including the 8-percent ABV Hop Colossus, that lands “just on that IPA/Double IPA line,” Boyd said. “It’s a favorite with the hopheads, but also one of the first offerings to the neophytes due to its tropical, fruity qualities.”

Rees is partial to the bourbon barrelaged Night Walker imperial stout and a fruity Colorado-centric creation.

“We recently made a 100-percent brettanomyces-fermented beer that had fresh Palisade peaches and freshly harvested Chinook hops grown in Paonia added to it,” Rees said. “It’s slightly tart, funky, and has a ton of peach character in both the flavor and aroma.”

He also said he was pleasantly surprised by the results of a collaboration with the Real Dill pickle company — the Cucumber Gose.

“It’s a slightly tart, gently salted and spiced wheat beer, that we added cucumber water to,” he said.

In the future, Rees is excited about developing a new barrel-aged sour beer program, and working more with the brettanomyces yeast.

Steve Graham is a Fort Collins writer who enjoys the outdoors and great beer.

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CHARACTERS OF THE CRAFT

ODYSSEY IS PERFECT FOR TAPROOM MANAGER

By Crystal Anderson

time position would completely change the trajectory of his life.

“When I first started here I was going to school, so I knew it would never be permanent here,” he says. “Then, I didn’t enjoy that line of work (healthcare) and now I’m thinking about a whole new realm of possibilities and potential. It’s kind of cool.”

Jumping in on the ground floor of the new brewery as a beer tender in 2013,

Photo: Jessica Brovsky

CHARACTER OF THE CRAFT

J

eremy Sisco found the perfect concoction of work and play – in beer.

“I spent quite a few years not enjoying my life as I should have,” he laments. “I was always looking for the next thing, the next adventure, the next job and I’ve finally found a place where it feels like home and it feels good.”

Now the taproom manager at Arvada’s Odyssey Beerwerks, the cheeky 34-year-old chef and beer lover enjoys serving Psycho Penguin Vanilla Porters and keeping guests entertained.

“I’m a big smart ass and that personality works in this atmosphere – it’s not fine dining,” the Wisconsin native points out.

A degree and career in mapping failed to keep Sisco engaged so he left it behind to pursue another degree and career in healthcare. At about the same time, he stumbled into a job at Odyssey Beerwerks. Little did he know, the part-

Jeremy Sisco

Sisco found the job to be a natural fit.

Passionate about the industry, he grew to love the position. He now runs the taproom and is the face of the popular southeast Arvada stop.

Alongside managing the daily ins and outs of running a taproom, Sisco plans events, books talent for the brewery’s comedy and music nights, manages their relationships with food trucks, serves beer and runs trivia nights. The brewery’s Renaissance man, he says he’s excited about where Odyssey is heading and how his role plays into it.

“I would love to see this place grow, explode and be that guy that gets to watch it grow and explode and move to different areas and titles and positions with this company.”

Crystal Anderson is an adventure-seeking journalist who loves exploring local breweries, the mountains and Denver’s hidden wonders.

-y

“BEER IS PROOF THAT GOD LOVES US AND WANTS US TO BE HAPPY” - Benjamin Franklin

for more?

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and our website where we are serving up more of the Colorado lifestyle.

2915 W. 44th Ave., Denver 303-955-5580 ErniesDenver.com

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Beer - Unique.

Eclectic. New. We have it.

facebook.com/thirstcolorado twitter.com/thirstcolorado thirstcolorado.com

www

BREWERY & DISTILLERY GUIDE

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COLORADO BR Dry Dock Brewing Co ● ● drydockbrewing.com

Fate Brewing Co ● fatebrewingcompany.com

Sanitas Brewing Co ● ● sanitasbrewing.com

Launch Pad Brewery ● launchpadbrewery.com

Finkel & Garf Brewing Co finkelandgarf.com

Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place ● ● shineboulder.com

ARVADA

Mu Brewery brewbymu.com

Front Range Brewing Co ● ● frontrangebrewingcompany.com

Southern Sun ● mountainsunpub.com

Arvada Beer Co ● arvadabeer.com

Two22 Brew ● two22brew.com

Gravity Brewing ● ● thegravitybrewing.com

Twelve Degree Brewing ● 12degree.com

Grand Lake Brewing Tavern ● ● grandlakebrewing.com

BOULDER AREA

Industrial Revolution Brewing Co theirbc.com

Twisted Pine ● ● twistedpinebrewing.com

New Image Brewing nibrewing.com

Asher Brewing asherbrewing.com

J Wells Brewery jwellsbrewery.com

Upslope Brewing Co ● ● upslopebrewing.com

Odyssey Beerwerks ● ● odysseybeerwerks.com

Avery ● averybrewing.com

Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co ● ● liquidmechanicsbrewing.com

Very Nice Brewing ● verynicebrewing.com

Yak and Yeti ● theyakandyeti.com

BJ’s ● bjsrestaurants.com

Mountain Sun ● mountainsunpub.com

Vindication Brewing Co vindicationbrewing.com

AURORA

Black Sheep Brewery blacksheepbrewery.com

New Planet Beer newplanetbeer.com

Vision Quest Brewing Co visionquestbrewing.com

BJ’s ● bjsrestaurants.com

Bootstrap Brewing ● ● bootstrapbrewing.com

Odd 13 Brewing Inc ● ● odd13brewing.com

Walnut Brewery ● walnutbrewery.com

Casita Brewing Company casitabrewing.com

Boulder Beer ● ● boulderbeer.com

Oskar Blues ● ● oskarblues.com

West Flanders Brewing Co ● wfbrews.com

Coda Brewing Co codabrewing.com

BRU Handbuilt Ales ● bruboulder.com

The Post Brewing Co ● ● postbrewing.com

Wild Mountain ● ● wildmountainsb.com

Dads and Dudes Breweria ● breweria.com

Crystal Springs Brewing Co crystalspringsbrewing.com

Powder Keg Brewing Co ● ● powderkegbrewingcompany.com

Wild Woods Brewery wildwoodsbrewery.com

● – Serves Food ● – Food Truck ● – Live Music

38

Winter 2016

ThirstColorado.com

EWERY LINEUP BRIGHTON/FREDERICK Echo Brewing echobrewing.com Floodstage Ale Works ● facebook.com/floodstagealeworks2013 Something Brewery somethingbrewery.com

BROOMFIELD/WESTMINSTER 4 Noses Brewing ● 4nosesbrewing.com Big Choice bigchoicebrewing.com BJ’s ● bjsrestaurants.com C.B. & Potts Broomfield ● cbpotts.com C.B. & Potts Westminster ● cbpotts.com Gordon Biersch ● gordonbiersch.com

Rock Bottom Orchard Town Center ● rockbottom.com

Lone Tree Brewing Co lonetreebrewingco.com

Iron Bird Brewery ironbirdbrewing.com

Rock Bottom Westminster Promenade ● rockbottom.com

Rock Bottom Park Meadows ● rockbottom.com

JAKs Brewing Co jaksbrewing.com

Westminster Brewing Co ● ● westminsterbrewingco.com

COLORADO SPRINGS AREA

Local Relic localrelic.com

Wonderland Brewing ● ● wonderlandbrewing.com

BierWerks Brewery ● ● bierwerks.com

Lofty Brewing Co loftybrewingcompany.wordpress.com

CASTLE ROCK

Bristol Brewing ● bristolbrewing.com

Manitou Brewing Co ● manitou-brewing.com

105 West Brewing Co ● 105westbrewing.com

Cerberus Brewing Company facebook.com/cerberusbrewingco

Nano 108 nano108brewing.com

Castle Rock Beer Company castlerockbeerco.com

Classic Brewing Company classicbrewingco.com

The Occasional Brew theoccasionalbrew.com

Rockyard Brewing Co ● rockyard.com

Cogstone Brewing Co ● cogstonebrewing.com

Paradox Beer Co paradoxbeercompany.com

Colorado Mountain Brewery ● cmbrew.com

Phantom Canyon ● ● phantomcanyon.com

Fieldhouse Brewing Co ● facebook.com/fieldhousebrewingcompany

Peaks and Pines Brewing Company peaksnpinesbrewery.com

Fossil Brewing Co ● fossilbrewing.com

Pikes Peak Brewing Co ● ● pikespeakbrewing.com

Gold Camp Brewing Co goldcampbrewing.com

Red Leg Brewing redlegbrewing.com

Great Storm Brewing ● greatstormbrewing.com

Rock Bottom Colorado Springs ● rockbottom.com

CENTENNIAL/LONE TREE/ HIGHLANDS RANCH 3 Freaks Brewery ● 3freaksbrewery.com Blue Spruce Brewing Co ● ● bluesprucebrewing.com

Kokopelli Beer Co ● ● kokopellibeer.com

C.B. & Potts Highlands Ranch ● cbpotts.com

Nighthawk Brewery ● nighthawkbrewery.com

Grist Brewing Co ● gristbrewingcompany.com

ARVADA - WHEAT RIDGE BREW TOUR 2

1

N

64th Ave.

303.344.8988 www.breweryrickoli.com 4335 Wadsworth Blvd. Wheat Ridge

1 4

Ralston Rd.

y 76

Hw

Grandview Ave.

I-70

303.422.0781 www.thegrandviewtavern.com 7427 Grandview Ave. Arvada

2

Federal Blvd.

303.423.0082 All Craft Beer 12 packs on sale!

6318 Ward Road, Arvada

4 Ward Rd.

Ralston Square Liquors

Wadsworth Blvd.

3

I-25

720.723.2179 grandlakebrewingtavern.com 5610 Yukon Street, Arvada

Yukon St.

3

44th Ave.

ThirstColorado.com

Winter 2016

39

COLORADO BR DURANGO AREA

Rocky Mountain Brewery therockymountainbrewery.com

Denver Chophouse ● chophouse.com

Our Mutual Friend omfbeer.com

Royal Gorge Brewing Co royalgorgebrewpub.com

Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery ● jaggedmountainbrewery.com

Ratio Beerworks ● ● ratiobeerworks.com

Smiling Toad Brewery smilingtoadbrewery.com

Rock Bottom Denver ● rockbottom.com

River North Brewing rivernorthbrewery.com

Storybrook Brewing storybookbrewing.com

Sandlot Brewery bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Zephyr Brewing Co ● zephyrbrewingco.com

Trinity Brewing ● trinitybrew.com

Wynkoop Brewing Co ● wynkoop.com

SOUTHEAST DENVER

Carver Brewing ● carverbrewing.com

Triple S Brewing Co ● triplesbrewing.com

NORTHEAST DENVER

Bull and Bush ● ● bullandbush.com

Dolores River Brewery ● ● doloresriverbrewery.com

Ute Pass Brewing Co ● utepassbrewingcompany.com

Bruz Beers bruzbeers.com

Comrade Brewing ● comradebrewing.com

Durango Brewing Co ● durangobrewing.com

Whistle Pig Brewing Company whistlepigbrewing.com

CAUTION: Brewing Co cautionbrewingco.com

Copper Kettle Brewing Co ● copperkettledenver.com

J. Fargos ● jfargos.com

Fermaentra ● Fermaentra.com

Main Street Brewery & Restaurant ● mainstreetbrewerycortez.com

SOUTHWEST DENVER

Mancos Brewing Co ● mancosbrewingcompany.com

Black Sky Brewery ● ● blackskybrewing.com

Ska Brewing ● ● skabrewing.com

Chain Reaction Brewing ● chainreactionbrewingco.com

Steamworks Brewing Co ● steamworksbrewing.com

Crazy Mountain Brewing Co crazymountainbrewery.com

EAGLE COUNTY

Declaration Brewing Co ● declarationbrewing.com

7 Hermits Brewing Company 7hermitsbrewing.com

Platt Park Brewing Co ● plattparkbrewing.com

Bonfire Brewing ● bonfirebrewing.com

Renegade Brewing renegadebrewing.com

Crazy Mountain Brewing Company crazymountainbrewery.com

Sleeping Giant Brewing sleepinggiantbrewing.com

Gore Range Brewery ● gorerangebrewery.com

Strange Craft Brewing ● strangecraft.com

Vail Brewing Company ● ● vailbrewingco.com

Wit’s End Brewing Co witsendbrewing.com

ENGLEWOOD AREA

Creede Brewing Co ● creedebeer.com

DENVER

BAKER/SOUTH BROADWAY Baere Brewing Co baerebrewing.com Former Future Brewing Co ● ● embracegoodtaste.com Grandma’s House grandmasbeer.co Lowdown Brewery + Kitchen ● lowdownbrewery.com TRVE trvebrewing.com

Alpine Dog Brewery alpinedogbrewery.com Cerebral Brewing cerebralbrewing.com

De Steeg Brewing desteegbrewing.com Denver Beer Co ● ● denverbeerco.com Diebolt Brewing Co ● ● dieboltbrewing.com

Goldspot Brewing Co ● ● goldspotbrewing.com Hogshead Brewery ● hogsheadbrewery.com Little Machine Brew House ● littlemachinebeer.com

CO-Brew cobrewdenver.com

Prost Brewing Co ● prostbrewing.com

Deep Draft Brewery deepdraftbrewery.com

Seedstock Brewery seedstockbrewery.com

Fiction Beer Co ● fictionbeer.com Lost Highway Brewing Co losthighwaybrewing.com Pints Pub ● pintspub.com Station 26 Brewing Co station26brewing.co Vine Street Pub & Brewery ● mountainsunpub.com

FIVE POINTS Spangalang Brewery spangalangbrewery.com

LODO Breckenridge Colorado Craft ● breckbrew.com Winter 2016

Call to Arms Brewing Co ● calltoarmsbrewing.com

Factotum Brewhouse factotumbrewhouse.com

CAPITOL HILL/E COLFAX/PARK HILL

40

NORTHWEST DENVER

ThirstColorado.com

Tivoli Brewing Co tivolibrewingco.com

RINO Beryl’s Beer Co ● ● berylsbeerco.com Black Shirt Brewing Co ● ● blackshirtbrewingco.com Crooked Stave crookedstave.com Epic Brewing Co ● epicbrewing.com Great Divide Brewing Co ● ● greatdivide.com Mockery Brewing ● mockerybrewing.com

WHEAT RIDGE/EDGEWATER/ LAKEWOOD Brewery Rickoli ● breweryrickoli.com CAUTION: Brewing Co cautionbrewingco.com Colorado Plus Brewpub ● ● coloradoplus.net Great Frontier Brewing Co greatfrontierbeer.com Ironworks Brewery & Pub ● ironworkspub.com Joyride Brewing Co ● joyridebrewing.com Westfax Brewing Company facebook.com/westfaxbrewingcompany

Animas Brewing Co ● animasbrewing.com Bottom Shelf Brewery ● bottomshelfbrewery.com Brew Pub & Kitchen ● brewpubkitchen.com

The Brew on Broadway ● ● thebrewonbroadway.com C.B. & Potts Denver Tech ● cbpotts.com Dead Hippie Brewing deadhippiebrewing.com

ESTES PARK Estes Park Brewery ● epbrewery.com Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co facebook.com/lumpyridgebrewery Rock Cut Brewing Co rockcutbrewing.com The Rock Inn ● ● rockinnestes.com

FAIRPLAY South Park Brewing Co ● southparkbrewingcolorado.com

EWERY LINEUP FORT COLLINS AREA 1933 Brewing Co ● 1933brewing.com BJ’s ● bjsrestaurants.com Black Bottle Brewery ● blackbottlebrewery.com C.B. & Potts ● cbpotts.com Coopersmiths ● coopersmithspub.com Equinox Brewing ● equinoxbrewing.com Fort Collins Brewery ● ● fortcollinsbrewery.com Funkwerks funkwerks.com High Hops Brewery ● ● highhopsbrewery.com Horse & Dragon Brewing Co horseanddragonbrewing.com Jessup Farm Barrel House ● jessupfarmbarrelhouse.com Hardihood Brewing hardihoodbrewing.com

New Belgium newbelgium.com

Carbondale Beer Works ● carbondalebeerworks.com

Kannah Creek Brewing Co ● kannahcreekbrewingco.com

Odell Brewing Co ● ● odellbrewing.com

Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co ● glenwoodcanyonbrewpub.com

Palisade Brewing Co ● ● palisadebrewingcompany.com

Old Colorado Brewing Co facebook.com/oldcoloradobrewingcompany

Roaring Fork Beer Co roaringforkbeerco.com

Revolution Brewing ● ● revolution-brewing.com

Pateros Creek Brewing Co ● ● pateroscreekbrewing.com

GOLDEN

Rockslide Brew Pub ● rockslidebrewpub.com

Pitchers Brewery ● pitchersbrewery.com

Barrels and Bottles Brewery ● barrelsbottles.com

Suds Brothers Brewery ● ● sudsbrothers2fruita.com

Rally King Brewing rallykingbrewing.com

Cannonball Creek Brewing Co cannonballcreekbrewing.com

GREELEY

Snowbank Brewing squareup.com/market/snowbank

Golden City Brewery ● gcbrewery.com

Brix Taphouse and Brewery ● ● brixtaphouseandbrewery.com

Soul Squared Brewing Co soulsquaredbrewing.com

Mountain Toad Brewing ● mountaintoadbrewing.com

Broken Plow Brewery ● brokenplowbrewery.com

Three Four Beer Co ● threefourbeerco.com

Nine26 Brewing Co nine26brewing.com

Crabtree Brewing Co ● crabtreebrewing.com

Zwei Brewing Co ● ● zweibrewing.com

GRAND JUNCTION AREA

WeldWerks Brewing Co weldwerksbrewing.com

4 B’s Brewery ● ● facebook.com/4bsbrewery

Wiley Roots Brewing Co ● wileyrootsbrewing.com

GLENWOOD SPRINGS/ CARBONDALE/ASPEN Aspen Brewing Co ● aspenbrewingcompany.com Casey Brewing and Blending caseybrewing.com

Copper Club Brewing Co ● copperclubbrew.com

IDAHO SPRINGS/EVERGREEN/ CENTRAL CITY

Edgewater Brewery ● kannahcreekbrewingco.com/ edgewater-brewery

The Buffalo Bar & Restaurant ● buffalorestaurant.com

LOVELAND BREW TOUR 2

1

Eisenhower Blvd.

Jump into this space.

303.428.9529 sales@thirstcolorado.com

I-25

970.624.6045 grimmbrosbrewhouse.com 623 Denver Ave., Loveland

1

3

Denver Ave.

4

Hwy 287

Taft Ave.

3

2 Cleveland Ave.

970.619.8138 www.lovelandbrewery.com 114 E 15th St., Loveland

970.619.8590 www.crowhopbrewing.com 217 E 3rd St., Loveland

N

1st St.

ThirstColorado.com

Winter 2016

41

COLORADO BR Dostal Alley Saloon & Gambling Emporium ● dostalalley.com

St. Patricks Brewing Co saintpatricksbrewing.com

Big Thompson Brewery lovelandbrewery.com

PAGOSA SPRINGS/DEL NORTE/ ALAMOSA

El Rancho Brewing Company ● elranchobrewing.com

LONGMONT

Buckhorn Brewers facebook.com/buckhornbrewers

Pagosa Brewing Co ● pagosabrewing.com

300 Suns ● 300sunsbrewing.com

City Star Brewing ● citystarbrewing.com

Riff Raff Brewing ● ● riffraffbrewing.com

Grossen Bart Brewery ● ● grossenbart.com

Crow Hop Brewing crowhopbrewing.com

San Luis Valley Brewing ● slvbrewco.com

Left Hand Brewing Co ● lefthandbrewing.com

Grimm Brothers grimmbrosbrewhouse.com

Three Barrel Brewing Co ● threebarrelbrew.com

Oskar Blues ● oskarblues.com

Laughing Leprechaun Meadery facebook.com/laughingleprechaunmeadery

Wolfe Brewing Co ● ● wolfebrewingco.com

Pumphouse Brewery ● pumphousebrewery.com

Loveland Aleworks lovelandaleworks.com

PARKER

Shoes and Brews shoesbrews.com

Rock Bottom ● rockbottom.com

Barnett and Son Brewing Co barnettandsonbrewing.com

Skeye Brewing ● skeyebrewing.com

Verboten Brewing Co. verbotenbrewing.com

Elk Mountain Brewing Inc ● elkmountainbrewing.com

Wibby Brewing wibbybrewing.com

NORTHGLENN

Hall Brewing hallbrewingco.com

LOVELAND/BERTHOUD

Beer by Design Brewery ● beerbydesign.com

PUEBLO AREA

Lariat Lodge Brewing Co ● ● lariatlodgebrewing.com Tommy Knocker Brewery & Pub ● tommyknocker.com Westbound & Down Brewing Company ● westboundanddown.com

LITTLETON AREA 38 State Brewing ● ● 38statebrew.com Boggy Draw Brewery boggydrawbrewing.com Breckenridge Brewery ● breckbrew.com Living the Dream Brewing Co livingthedreambrewing.com Locavore Beer Works locavorebeerworks.com Old Mill Brewery ● oldmillbrewery.net Resolute Brewing Company resolutebrewingco.com

Berthoud Brewing Co berthoudbrewing.com

Brues Alehouse Brewing Co ● ● bruesalehouse.com

Big Beaver Brewing Co ● bigbeaverbrew.com

Shamrock Brewing ● shamrockbrewing.com

BOULDER, BROOMFIELD & WESTMINSTER BREW TOUR 2

1

Valmont Rd.

Hwy 157

3

55th St.

303.466.6677 TheColoradoKegHouse.com 8001 Arista Place, Ste #110, Broomfield

303.578.0041 visionquestbrewing.com 2510 47th Street, Ste #2, Boulder

1

Pearl Pkwy.

Hwy 287

BOULDER

4

Arapahoe Ave.

LAFAYETTE

Hwy 7

5

303.396.1898 upslopebrewing.com 1898 S. Flatiron Ct., Boulder

42

Winter 2016

ThirstColorado.com

303.284.0135 kokopellibeerco.com 8931 Harlan St., Westminster

y3

6

BROOMFIELD

2

I-25

4

Hw

Wadsworth Blvd.

N

720.550.7813 Liquidmechanicsbrewing.com 297 N. US Highway 287, Lafayette

Sheridan Blvd.

3

120th Ave.

WESTMINSTER

5

92nd Ave. 88th Ave.

EWERY LINEUP Walter’s Brewing Co waltersbeer.com

SALIDA/BUENA VISTA/GUNNISON/ CRESTED BUTTE Amica’s ● amicassalida.com Eddyline Brewing ● eddylinebrewing.com Eldo Brewery ● ● eldobrewpub.com Elevation Beer Co ● elevationbeerco.com High Alpine Brewing Co ● highalpinebrewingcompany.com Moonlight Pizza ● moonlightpizza.biz

SOUTHWEST COLORADO Avalanche Brewing Company ● avalanchebrewing.com Colorado Boy Pizzeria ● coloradoboy.com/montrose Colorado Boy Pub & Brewery ● coloradoboy.com/ridgeway Golden Block Brewery ● goldenblockbrewery.com

CIDER

Horsefly Brewing Company ● ● horseflybrewing.com

The Baker’s Brewery ● thebakersbrewery.com

Ouray Brewery ● ouraybrewery.com

Breckenridge Brewery & Pub ● breckbrew.com

Ourayle House Brewery ouraylehouse.com

Broken Compass Brewing brokencompassbrewing.com

Smuggler’s Brew Pub ● smugglersbrewpub.com

Dillon Dam Brewery ● ● dambrewery.com

Telluride Brewing Co telluridebrewingco.com

Pug Ryan’s ● pugryans.com

Two Rascals Brewing tworascalsbrewing.com

TRINIDAD

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

Dodgeton Creek Brewing Co dodgetoncreek.com

Butcherknife Brewing Co butcherknifebrewing.com

WINTERPARK AREA

Mahogany Ridge Brewery & Grill ● mahoganyridgesteamboat.com

Hideaway Park Brewery hideawayparkbrewery.com

Storm Peak Brewing Co. stormpeakbrewing.com

Library Sports Grille and Brewery ● wp.librarysportsgrille.com

Yampa Valley Brewing Co ● yampavalleybrew.com

SUMMIT COUNTY Backcountry Brewery ● backcountrybrewery.com

Big B’s Hard Cider, Hotchkiss bigbjuices.com Blossomwood Cidery, Cedaredge blossomwoodcidery.com Branch Out Cider, Fort Collins branchoutcider.com Climb Hard Cider Company, Loveland climbhardcider.com Colorado Cider Company, Denver coloradocider.com Compass Cider, Fort Collins compasscider.com Old Mine Cidery & Brewpub, Erie theoldmine.com Scrumpy’s Hard Cider, Fort Collins facebook.com/scrumpyshardciderbar Stem Ciders, Denver ● ● stemciders.com Talisman Farm Cidery, Hygiene talisman.com

Moffat Station ● winterparkhotel.com/moffat-station

Wild Cider, Firestone wildcider.com

If your favorite brewery is not listed, please let us know. joe@thirstcolorado.com

NORTHWEST DENVER BREW TOUR N

2

1

Hwy 720.441.4735 www.factotumbrewhouse.com 3845 Lipan St, Denver

720.328.8258 www.calltoarmsbrewing.com 4526 Tennyson St, Denver

3

4

3

I-25

25th Ave.

44th Ave.

38th Ave.

29th Ave.

2 Pecos St.

303.495.3105 www.hogsheadbrewery.com 4460 West 29th Ave, Denver

46th Ave.

Federal Blvd.

303.477.7000 www.hopsandpie.com 3920 Tennyson St, Denver

6

5 Lowell Blvd.

4

Tennyson St.

6

Sheridan Blvd.

5

720.432.7560 www.joyridebrewing.com 2501 Sheridan Blvd, Edgewater

I-70

1 Wadsworth Blvd.

303.955.5657 www.goldspotbrewing.com 4970 Lowell Blvd, Denver

76

20th Ave.

ThirstColorado.com

Winter 2016

43

SERIOUSLY, IS THERE ANYTHING THE COW CAN’T DO? TURNS OUT THEY CAN’T MAKE BEER. BUT DON’T WORRY, WE’VE GOT THAT ONE COVERED. 25+ TAPS SHOULD DO JUST THAT. 2641 E 2nd Ave, Denver CO

44

Winter 2016

ThirstColorado.com

|

Mon - Sun: 11:00 am - 2:00 am

|

Daily Happy Hour 3:00-6:00pm

COLORADO DIST ILLERY LINEUP DENVER/BOULDER

State 38 Distilling - Golden State-38.com

Syntax Spirits - Greeley syntaxspirits.com

Breckenridge Distillery - Breckenridge breckenridgedistillery.com

Stranahan’s - South Denver stranahans.com

Tesouro Distillery - Longmont tesourodistillery.com

Colorado Gold - Cedaredge coloradogolddistillers.com

Vapor Distillery - Boulder vapordistillery.com

SOUTHERN COLORADO

Honey House Distillery - Durango honeyhousedistillery.com

Whistling Hare - Broomfield whistlinghare.com

3 Hundred Days of Shine - Monument 3hundreddays.com

Mancos Valley Distillery - Mancos mancosvalleydistillery.com

NORTHERN COLORADO

Axe and the Oak Distillery - Colo. Springs axeandtheoak.com

Marble Distilling Co - Carbondale marbledistilling.com

Downslope Distilling - Englewood downslopedistilling.com

Anvil Distillery - Longmont anvildistillery.com

Black Bear Distillery - Green Mountain Falls blackbeardistillery.com

Montanya Distillers - Crested Butte montanyarum.com

Golden Moon Distillery - Golden goldenmoondistillery.com

Black Canyon Distilling - Longmont blackcanyondistillery.com

Boathouse Distillery - Salida boathousedistillery.com

Peachstreet Distillers - Palisade peachstreetdistillers.com

J & L Distilling Co - Boulder jldistilling.com

Coppermuse Distillery - Fort Collins coppermuse.com

Deerhammer Distilling Co - Buena Vista deerhammer.com

Peak Spirits - Hotchkiss peakspirits.com

Laws Whiskey House - Denver lawswhiskeyhouse.com

Dancing Pines Distillery - Loveland dancingpinesdistillery.com

Distillery 291 - Colo. Springs distillery291.com

Telluride Distillery - Mountain Village telluridedistilling.com

Leopold Bros - Northeast Denver leopoldbros.com

Feisty Spirits - Fort Collins feistyspirits.com

Mystic Mountain Distillery - Larkspur mmdistillery.com

Trail Town Still - Ridgeway trailtownstill.com

Mile High Spirits - Lodo milehighspiritsllc.com

KJ Wood Distillers - Berthoud kjwooddistillers.com

Wood’s High Mountain Distillery - Salida woodsdistillery.com

Woodshed Distilling - Pagosa Springs woodsheddistilling.com

Rado Distilling - Arvada radodistilling.com

Old Town Distilling - Fort Collins downtownfortcollins.com/ member-directory/old-town-distilling-company

Altitude Spirits, Inc. - Boulder altitudespirits.com Bear Creek Distillery - Denver bearcreekdistillery.com Blank & Booth Distilling - Central Denver blankandbooth.com Boulder Distillery and Clear Spirit Company, Inc. - Boulder 303vodka.com/boulderdistillery

Rising Sun Distillery - Southwest Denver risingsundistillery.com Spirit Hound Distillers - Lyons spirithounds.com

WESTERN SLOPE

Still Cellars - Longmont stillcellars.com

10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit CO - Vail 10thwhiskey.com

Spring 44 Distilling - Loveland spring44.com

808 Distillery - Eagle 808distill.com

Woody Creek Distillers - Basalt woodycreekdistillers.com If your favorite distillery is not listed, please let us know. joe@thirstcolorado.com

ThirstColorado.com

Winter 2016

45

UNSCRIPTED THEATRE

FEB

FEB

12 13 8PM 8PM APR

MAY

SECRETS &

Opti

CONFESSIONS

DECIDE YOUR

29 2 1 DESTINY 8PM 8PM

KARAOKE 30 20 BROADWAY

APR

MAY

8 PM

8PM

MUSICAL

15 FREE BEER

JUST $

SHOWS

OFFINCLUDES - CENTER ONE

SPONSORED BY

(21+)

denverOFFcenter.org 303.893.4100 • THE JONES, SPEER AND ARAPAHOE

DEEP IN THE HEART OF OUR FORT COLLINS BREWERY IS A FOREST OF 64 FRENCH OAK FOEDERS. WEAVING AMONG THESE TWO-STORY WOODEN VESSELS IS OUR TEAM OF BREWERS AND BLENDERS WHO NURTURE THE WILD MICRO-FLORA LIVING INSIDE THE WOOD, SOURING THE BEER AS IT AGES. MONTHS OF TASTING, EXPERIMENTING WITH FRUIT ADDITIONS, EMPLOYING INNOVATIVE DRY-HOPPING TECHNIQUES AND— MOST IMPORTANT—THE ARTFUL PRACTICE OF BLENDING TRANSFORMS OUR BELOVED SOUR BEER INTO SOMETHING WORTH CELEBRATING. JOIN US IN TOASTING THE 2016 RELEASE OF LA FOLIE AND OUR COLLABORATION WITH OUD BEERSEL, TRANSATLANTIQUE KRIEK AT A LOST IN THE WOODS PARTY NEAR YOU: NEWBELGIUM.COM/LOST